Alex McLeish explains which is better – Birmingham derby or Old Firm clash

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Alex McLeish has been in charge of Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Rangers.

Former manager Alex McLeish says the Old Firm clash between Rangers and Celtic trumps any other derby he has been involved and warns Brendan Rodgers of the task ahead, the Mirror report.

McLeish spent a number of years as Rangers boss and was involved in some classic encounters against Celtic before moving on to Scotland and later south of the border with Birmingham City.

The former Aberdeen manager had spells at St. Andrews and later the Blues’ rivals Aston Villa, and therefore knows of the Birmingham rivalry from both sides of the fence.

However, on the eve of the big Old Firm clash in Glasgow, McLeish says nothing he has experienced compares to Celtic-Rangers and suggests Rodgers is fortunate the game is at Celtic Park.

“Old Firm matches are like nothing else in the world. You have to go through it and experience it for yourself. There is a different adrenaline rush and the atmosphere makes you catch your breath,” McLeish told the Mirror.

“Birmingham and Aston Villa have a real rivalry and I have been to a few derbies in Liverpool and Manchester, but I have never experienced anything like an Old Firm derby. You have got to love every minute of it.

“Celtic Park is a very intimidating place to go. I sampled it first as a player with Aberdeen then as a manager. Brendan has an advantage playing his first Old Firm game at home.”

Rodgers is certainly not new to derby matches having been in charge of Swansea City, against Cardiff City, and Liverpool, against both Everton and Manchester United, on more than one occasion.

However, the Old Firm derby is renowned for its atmosphere and intensity and McLeish will know better than most how hard it can become when coming out on the losing side.

The 57-year-old former central defender spent five years in charge of Rangers, going unbeaten in his first six games against Celtic before suffering a record of seven straight Old Firm derby defeats.